Vampire Hands is not for everybody.

To truly enjoy this threesome from Minneapolis, is to have a musically open mind, and there is no better example of this than “Me & You Cherry Red.”

Described simply as a psychadelic rock act, Alex and Chris Rose (drums and guitar respectively) along with base player Chris Bierden seemingly try present something more that will require more than one listen to fully hone in on.

The band began playing in 2006 and released its first full-lengthed EP, “Virgin Dust American Lips,” and two years later they released “Me & You Cherry Red.”

Vampire Hands has been a self-release machine over the years putting out an album a year in various forms and formats, including vinal and CD reissues.

The band employs a variety of techniques and arrangements in their music and while they do fall under the psychadelic rock label, you can hear influences from a variety of sources including blues and pop just to name a few.

 Dig it

I can appreciate the ties to the indie sound the band ultimatley strives for. This is bit of rock that is really dedicated to a more intimate listen like you would find in a small club.

It’s a laid-back vibe that permeates through everything the band commits to recording.

 Didn’t dig it

The album seems to wander and often times touches a little too much on experimental qualities that makes it hard to truly concentrate on.

Some of the songs seems like just trying effort to bridge one song to the other. “Friendship Road,” which sticks to repeating the words “Take it,” for the lion’s share of the song is one such example. It then falls away into a droning of sorts for the rest of the song which is well more than a minute long.

It makes you want to take your headphones off and call it good.

 Standout song

The album’s title song features an interesting use of saxaphone that almost crawls through the song adding an intriguing depth.

 Final verdict

This will probably mark the only time I listen to Vampire Hands. Appreciation for doing your own thing and trying new songs only goes so far.

Vampire Hands borders on an act that sounds like it delites in reminding the listener over and over again how different it is.

That probably isn’t a bad thing depending on who you are, but like I said at the beginning, Vampire Hands is not for everybody.

 Have a group you would like to challenge Eric and Jason with? Email them at photodesk@austindailyherald.com or jason.schoonover@austindailyherald.com. Please include the name of the band, the specific album and your name.